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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Holy Week at our house

Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

I looked forward to that song every year and the jubilation
with which we sang those words. As an adult I’ve come to appreciate Holy Week and all that it represents. I'm recognizing that Easter is about so much more than 12 hours of celebrating on Sunday.

In an email from Connected Families this week, titled "Are Your Easter Traditions Leaving a Legacy of Faith?"they made this statement: "It can be easy to let Holy Week slide by in a blur, but we challenge you to be intentional about the message and values behind the traditions you embrace with your family."

Whether you have children or not, Holy Week can certainly slip by in a blur of activity. This
week can become about last-minute errands, grocery shopping, cleaning and Easter basket preparation.
It becomes about Spring Break or visiting family and the meaning of Holy Week gets lost in the hustle.

I'm not sure where I read these powerful words:"Before we can celebrate the resurrection, we must first take time to
recognize the loss that precedes the miracle."

That’s what Holy Week is about. Recognizing the loss that precedes the
miracle. We can each do that in our own unique ways, but here’s what’s taking
place in our home this week to honor all that Holy Week represents:

Love to the Uttermost
Ryan and I are reading this ebookby John Piper. There are 8 readings for the week. It’s definitely something to
prepare one’s heart to honor Christ’s death and resurrection. It provides a thought-provoking
perspective on the week’s events and Scripture that we’ve read numerous times.

Matthew 28:5-6As a family we are memorizing Matthew 28:5-6 this week: The
angel said to the women, “Do not
be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.He is not here; He has risen,
just as He said.”
Thus far the kids have down, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” Apparently we are memorizing from the end
to the beginning. It doesn’t matter. As long as they know we serve a RISEN
Savior, nothing else matters.

Easter PlaylistI’ve been trying to teach Lauren the words toWhen I Survey the Wondrous Cross.Turns out I really know the words to the more contemporary version,
The Wonderful Cross, so we’ve been listening to and practicing that. Other
songs on our playlist this week that keep us in prayerful reverence and
thankful grief:

I Stand Amazed

Redeemer

In Christ Alone (Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave he rose again...if listening to this doesn't give you chills all over, turn up your music).

Jesus, Only Jesus (or anything on the new Passion 2013 album. Love. It.)

Each year my heart is drawn more and more to the Easter season and it becomes such
a tender time. I understand the sacrifice of Good Friday and the miracle of
Resurrection Sunday to a greater depth every year. I find myself living in a
constant tension between the secular Easter celebrations and what truly honors
the greatest gift we’ve ever been given. Jen’s honesty and authenticity challenges my heart about how to best show Christ's love on Easter.

The Most Important Story EverWe’re reading about the events of Holy Week from the various children’s
Bibles that we have at home. This is when Samuel asks deep theological
questions like, “What color were Jesus’ burial clothes?”
We are reading about Christ’s death and resurrection from:The Big Picture Story BibleThe Jesus Storybook BibleMy First Message

Dark FridayI’m not sure how/if this will pan out, but we're planning to turn all
the lights in our house off at 3 p.m. on Friday to represent when Jesus died
and the world went black. We'll keep them off for the remainder of the
evening. Maybe we’ll use candles once the sun sets. I’m not sure. We haven’t
done this before, but I really want to do something in a tangible way
that will allow my kids to comprehend as best they can what took place on Good
Friday. It’s so much more than a day off of school and work. I have preparations
that needs to be done for Sunday as well, but I won’t be doing them on Friday.
Instead we’ll remember Good Friday for what it is: the day that changed the world
for eternity. I hope you can take time to honor Christ’s sacrifice in a way
that best fits your family.

Resurrection SundayThis is a day of celebration. Not about bunnies or eggs or baskets. Though
there will be some of that when we head to Ryan’s aunt’s home. But because we’ve
taken time to recognize and honor the loss that precedes the miracle, today we
will celebrate that Jesus Is Alive. We’ll attend church and sing about our
Savior. We’ll spend the day with family. We’ll read about an empty tomb. We
will celebrate that Jesus conquered death and He lives. He Lives! And the kids
will probably hear me humming Up from the grace He
arose, With a mighty triumph o'er His foes...What do you do to honor Holy Week in your home (now or as a
child)? What are your favorite songs/hymns to listen to during the Easter
season? Do you have a book or devotional that you read annually to prepare your
heart to acknowledge Christ’s death and resurrection? Please share by leaving a
comment. I would love to learn what traditions you participate in.

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In Its Time

I am a wife, a mother and a saved-by-grace writer who is learning to rest in the truth that He makes everything beautiful in its time. I write about the One whose timing and ways and plans I do not understand, but who gives joy in the midst of waiting and brings beauty out of ashes.